P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Luca Marini: “You never know, let’s see in Thailand”
Luca Marini is confident that the final pre-season test at Buriram will provide a better understanding of MotoGP’s true competitive order than the Sepang test. Despite finishing 13th in Malaysia, he feels positive about the improvements made to his Castrol HRC bike, particularly in braking and entry areas. Marini acknowledges the need for continuous work, as all manufacturers seem to have progressed similarly, maintaining similar gaps seen at the Sepang GP.
During Sprint simulations, Ducati riders Alex Marquez, Francesco Bagnaia, and Marc Marquez demonstrated impressive performance, with Marini lagging 1.5s per lap behind the leader. He emphasized the challenges of interpreting testing times accurately due to variable factors such as tire selection, age, time of day, and fuel levels. Marini highlighted the importance of the upcoming Thailand test for further bike setup evaluations before the 2026 MotoGP season opener on March 1, emphasizing the necessity of exploring new developments.
